The Awakened Woman – Remembering & Reigniting Our Sacred Dreams

by Tererai TrentForeward by Oprah Winfrey

Through one incredible woman’s journey from a child bride in a small Zimbabwe village to one of the world’s most recognizable voices in women’s empowerment and education, this manifesto inspires women to pursue their sacred dreams through nine essential lessons brought forth from ancient African wisdom.

Tererai points out that there is a massive, untapped, global resource in women who have, for one reason or another, set aside their wisdom, their skills, and their dreams in order to take care of the personal business of their lives. Not only is this a type of invisible suffering experienced by countless women, this rich resource is a secret weapon for improving our world. Women have the capacity to inspire, to create, to transform—and Tererai’s call to action will awaken hearts, give permission to recapture dreams, and provide the tools to forge a brighter path for all. This is the movement of Sacred Sisters.

This book is your guide for invoking the sacred dream. It is about thinking globally and acting locally – in which local means to start from deep inside each of us. First, we need to understand the world we face, and indeed, the decks are often stacked against us. But we can heal the world from the inside out, and that is Dr. Trent’s fundamental message: we must awaken to the world as it is, and to the potential within us to change it, which we can do if we are only given the tools.

Praise & Reviews

“Any time anyone tells you that a dream is impossible, any time you’re discouraged by impossible challenges, just mutter this mantra: Tererai Trent.”– Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and #1 nationally bestselling author of Half the Sky

“Against the gripping backdrop of Dr. Trent’s beginnings in war-torn, patriarchal Zimbabwe, The Awakened Woman shines as a beacon of hope to women everywhere. She invites the reader to sit around a sacred fire of sisterhood with her, guiding us on a powerful personal journey, and stoking the embers within us all to reclaim our voices to heal our souls – and the heart of the world.”– Danica McKellar, actress and New York Times bestselling author of Kiss My Math

“In The Awakened Woman, Tererai Trent weaves her riveting story with that of other women to inspire us to dream as boldly as she dared to, then holds our hands and walks us through each crucial practical step to achieve those dreams. Tererai calls us to remember the foundation of who we are and reminding us of the rituals that ground us. This powerful interactive book is a perfect gift for your girlfriend, your daughter (or yourself!) when you want to say: BE YOU. BE BOLD. BE CREATIVE. YOUR LIFE MATTERS. And what could be more important than that?”– Lisa Bloom, civil rights lawyer and New York Times bestselling author of Think, Swagger and Suspicion Nation

Praise & Reviews

**** Recommended for Black History Month **** “The watercolors beautifully illustrate the text… Kids who devote their attention here will be inspired by this tale of a steadfast young girl from Rhodesia who changed the world.” —USA Today, also syndicated in the Chicago Sunday Sun-Times and the Cincinnati Enquirer

“Like Malala Yousafzai’s story, this picture book can lead to conversations about education around the world and the connections between literacy and freedom.”—LA TIMES

“An inspirational look at one woman’s journey from ambition and vision to the reality of schooling and schools.”
—Kirkus Reviews

A wonderful selection for discussing the importance of education.” —School Library Journal

“The inspiring story of how one person can overcome difficulties and make a difference.” —Booklist

Overview

This is the story of a little girl with big dreams.

All the girl ever wanted was an education. But in Rhodesia, education for girls was nearly impossible. So she taught herself to read and write with her brother’s schoolbooks and to count while watching cattle graze.

When the girl became a young wife and mother, she wrote her goals on a scrap of paper and buried them in a can—an ancient ritual that reminded her that she couldn’t give up on her dreams.

She dreamed of going to America and earning one degree; then a second, even higher; and a third, the highest. And she hoped to bring education to all the girls and boys of her village.

Would her dreams ever come true?

Illustrated with Jan Spivey Gilchrist’s graceful watercolors, Dr. Tererai Trent’s true story of perseverance is sure to inspire readers of all ages.

Get Updates

Sign up for the email newsletter to be the first to know about forthcoming books and special deals!

* We respect your privacy and will never share your email with anyone. You can always unsubscribe from our email list at anytime.